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Is Denis Villeneuve Actually Shooting ‘Dune Messiah’ Entirely on IMAX Film Cameras?
‘Dune Messiah’ has reportedly started filming, yet there might be some misleading information being put out, and questions remain regarding the project being filmed entirely on IMAX cameras.
Jul 08, 2025
Let’s face it, everyone’s excited for Dune Messiah. The third installment of Denis Villeneuve’s film series adaptation of Frank Hubert’s epic space opera Dune has reportedly started filming. Yet, despite much fanfare for such a large tentpole project, Warner Bros. hasn’t officially announced that the project has begun.
Still, that hasn’t stopped many in the industry from reporting on the project, even going as far as announcing that the movie will be the second feature-length film to be shot entirely in IMAX. Yet, if you listen closely to what people are saying (namely, IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond) regarding the project, questions remain as to what Denis Villeneuve is actually shooting Dune Messiah on.
Let’s explore and see what we know, and perhaps don’t know, so far.
Dune Messiah is on the Way
While it’s interesting to dive into this, it’s worth noting that we’re all very excited about Dune Messiah and have a lot of faith in Villeneuve and his team to craft yet another major blockbuster that should give a good boost to the industry, and perhaps be the director’s best shot at some serious awards once all is said and done for the film.
And, as we saw with Dune: Part Two, Villeneuve and cinematographer Greig Fraser are certainly capable of shooting films for IMAX. Yet, using Dune: Part Two as an example, the project was primarily filmed using ARRI Alexa LF digital cameras with a focus on spherical lenses. While it was “filmed for IMAX” for where it was meant to be displayed, it was not shot using IMAX film cameras.
Will Dune Messiah Be Entirely Shot on IMAX?
A lot of the contention surrounding this ongoing story regarding what Dune Messiah will, or will not, be shot on most likely has to do with the fanfare that Christopher Nolan has been getting for reportedly shooting all of his latest film The Odyssey with full-screen IMAX 70mm-capable film cameras—the first major blockbuster to do so.
In an interview with CNBC, IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond appears to indicate that Denis Villeneuve will be doing the same with Dune Messiah, but… it’s a bit confusing as the phrasing could be interpreted a couple of ways.
According to Gizmodo, a spokesperson for IMAX has confirmed that Villeneuve is shooting Dune Messiah with IMAX cameras, as Gelfond mentions; however, neither the spokesperson nor the interview clip appears to indicate that the film will be entirely shot on IMAX film in the same way as The Odyssey.
Regardless of how you feel about what the project will, or won’t, be shot on, it will be a fascinating story to follow as Dune Messiah is slated to be one of the biggest blockbusters of our time.
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